How Maakil Group Saved $200,000 Switching to Aldoa

Overview

Geotechnical engineering and materials testing firm Maakil Group experienced costly inefficiencies and slow response times from their previous software provider, hindering abilities to manage and grow their business. After switching to Aldoa’s cloud-based, customizable solution, the firm experienced faster workflows, greater profitability, and annual savings estimated at over $200K.

By collaborating closely with Aldoa, Maakil Group streamlined field data collection, improved lab workflows, automated billing, and gained real-time financial visibility—all while simplifying operations for their field and office staff.

Challenge

Before Aldoa, Maakil Group faced multiple operational roadblocks:

• Unresponsive Support: Requests for form changes went unanswered.
  
  
• Cumbersome Field Workflows: Field staff juggled multiple, layered forms that slowed data collection.
  
  
• Manual Cost Tracking: Reviewing budgets and finding profitability gaps was slow and often incomplete.
  
  
• High Administrative Overhead: A full-time administrator managed tasks that should have been automated.

“We accomplished more with Aldoa in a few months than we did in a year before with our old solution.” – Thia Light

“Aldoa fits our needs better, we’re able to do more, and it’s saving us money. There’s so much more we’ve gotten from Aldoa than what we ever got before.” – Ben Prenger

Solution

Aldoa partnered directly with Maakil Group’s leadership and staff to create a tailored platform that addressed their specific workflow challenges.

1. Streamlined Field Data Collection

Aldoa replaced cumbersome, multi-layered forms with intuitive, consolidated versions—allowing data to be entered one time from the field, quickly and accurately.

“My guys are loving it. They don’t have to worry about what to do or when to do it. The forms are like ‘wow’—we don’t have to do all that work anymore.” – Ben Prenger

2. Workflow Automation

From proctor form creation to asphalt lab testing, Aldoa implemented systems to speed up processes. Planned features, like a task pop-up system, will guide priorities and reduce manual filtering.

“Aldoa successfully created a proctor form in a week or two—something we’d been told has been coming for years by our previous software vendor.” – Thia Light

3. Real-Time Cost Tracking

Custom financial tools now let Maakil Group track expenses and profitability for each project. Bernard can instantly see which jobs are most profitable and where improvements are needed.

“I can figure out what I’m missing on my jobs. Now I can see the areas of opportunity to become more profitable.” – Ben Prenger

4. Automated Billing & Administration

Tasks that once took months now take hours. Billing cycles were reduced from three months to just three hours, and the role of a $60K/year administrator was eliminated.

“With Aldoa, I don’t have layers and screens. I just have what I need to do.” – Ben Prenger

Additional benefits include:

• Faster turnaround on custom requests (weeks instead of months).
  
  
• Unified system for expenses, project management, and lab workflows.
  
  
• Increased staff satisfaction and productivity in both field and office.

The Aldoa Difference

Both Thia and Bernard pointed to the same three strengths that made Aldoa the right fit:

1. Responsiveness: Rapid delivery of custom solutions.
   
   
2. Customization: Flexibility to adapt the software to exact workflows.
   
   
3. Challenge-Driven Mindset: A team that embraces complexity.
   
   

“You’ve overdelivered and underpromised, which is the opposite of what we had before.” – Ben Prenger

“The willingness to customize and tackle tough challenges is huge for smaller firms like ours trying to compete with the bigger players.” – Thia Light

Conclusion

For Maakil Group, switching to Aldoa wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a transformation. With simplified operations, real-time insights, and six-figure annual savings, they’re operating more efficiently, more profitably, and more competitively than ever.

“We’re 10x happier, our operations are simpler, and we’re saving money.” – Ben Prenger